Man Reportedly Calls 911 to Admit He Killed Four Children

North Carolina Man Arrested After Alleged Confession of Killing Four Children

A man from North Carolina was arrested on Monday following an alleged call to 911 where he confessed to killing four children.

Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, reportedly told a dispatcher that he had taken the lives of the children, as stated by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). “I killed the children,” Dickens is quoted as saying. There are recordings of the call obtained by WRAL, where he mentioned, “It’s a lot to explain, but in a nutshell, it’s probably my fault… I don’t go… It’s my fault. It’s bad… It started with me being too disciplined.”

During the call, the dispatcher prompted him to elaborate on what had happened.

“I hit them sometimes. They didn’t want to eat. I didn’t force them to eat. They told me it was punishment not to eat. I did a lot of different little things… I’m just trying to do the right thing,” Dickens reportedly said, as per the recording.

Authorities discovered the bodies of four children in the trunk of a car at Dickens’ home in Zebulon on Monday. The investigation revealed that 6-year-old Leah Dickens was murdered in May 2025, followed by 9-year-old Zoe Dickens in August, Wellington Dickens IV in late August or early September, and 18-year-old Sean Brassfield in September. Reportedly, Brassfield is Dickens’ son-in-law.

He has been charged with four counts of murder and is currently held without bail at the Johnston County Jail. The exact cause of death for each child has not yet been established.

The ages of the children range from 6 to 18 years old, according to the JCSO. Interestingly, Dickens’ 3-year-old son was found safe in the home, officials stated. JCSO also mentioned that the bodies had been in the trunk “for an extended period of time.”

Sheriff Steve Bizzell indicated that investigators are looking into the motive behind this tragic event. Dickens is expected to become a widow in 2024, which adds another layer to this complex situation, as he will need to care for his surviving children.